By Linda Commito
The clock ticked away, reminding me how long I had been tossing and turning as I weighed the consequences of my financial decision. Why had I been so quick to jump at someone’s recommendation when my gut told me to wait? “Costly mistake,” I thought, regretting the retirement money lost. And that led me to question other decisions…should I have hired that contractor, did I choose the right doctor, why did I make that purchase, what should I have said or not said, done or not done…and on and on it went.
At 3:00 a.m. I asked myself, “Well, Linda, are there any other things you would like to beat yourself up about?” Silence. I had covered quite a number of concerns for one night. I finally fell asleep.
In the morning, I tried not to dwell any longer on my decision. It was done.
There was nothing I could do about it. Later, as I checked my emails, I noticed a prayer request from a friend. She asked for prayers for a woman who was confronted with a difficult decision: Should she take her son off of life support? I couldn’t imagine being faced with such a painful choice—one that no one, especially a mom, should be forced to make. My heart ached for this woman and the imminent loss of her son.
It gave me a new perspective. So often, I’ve felt overwhelmed, acting as though my decisions are about life and death, when in fact, most of them never are. Life is difficult. Most times I don’t have control over what happens. But what I can choose is the way that I show up in the world, how I engage with others in an open, loving and authentic way that, hopefully, makes a difference.
And in regards to material matters, I realize that I can only do the best I can every day with whatever challenges present themselves, and then I can let go and trust that it will all work out—exactly as it’s supposed to. And it usually does.
That night I fell asleep with a prayer on my lips.
Linda Commito, author, speaker, entrepreneur, consultant and teacher, is passionate about her vision to leave this world a kinder, more loving and interconnected place. Her award-winning book of inspirational stories, Love is the New Currency, demonstrates how we can each make an extraordinary difference in the lives of others through simple acts of love and kindness. She recently volunteered at a Title One elementary school in Sarasota, FL, working with more than 500 students to create and facilitate the “Kindness Starts With Me” program. Please visit www.loveisthenewcurrency.com for more information and/or to sign up for an uplifting monthly newsletter.